LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – The Lubbock-Cooper High School chess team is preparing to compete at the 2026 National High School Chess Championships in Chicago.
A season of success
Freshman Ryder McClelen has played chess since the age of six. He said it’s an honor to represent Lubbock on the national stage.
“To be able to represent an entire city is a big deal for me, something I have been doing for years and dedicated so much time to,” McClelen said. “This sport for our city, it really is a big deal for me. It’s very important to me and it makes me really happy I have been given this opportunity and am able to do this.”
McClelen said it isn’t just about winning, it’s about learning from every move.
“Don’t worry about others, don’t worry about your failures, don’t worry about all the mistakes that you make because they will happen,” McClelen said. “Worry about improving, focusing on success, naturally being able to get better at the sport.”
The team behind the team
While chess may be a solo game, the chess club sponsor, Athena Rodriguez, says this group as a whole is special, and is now one big family.
“They said they were going to win it, and they won, got first place at that tournament, and they won it for me,” Rodriguez said. “I was in the hospital, and they sent me pictures and it was pretty neat. They have really stepped up and supported me, and I support them, and the battle I have gone through, it has kind of helped.”
Senior and chess club president Aiden Rust said Rodriguez has played a vital role in the team’s success and will travel with the team to Chicago.
“She has had such an amazing impact. She has been so helpful as well as diligent and staying on top of everything and making sure we are all taken care of,” Rust said. “I am really excited that she is coming with us to Chicago. I think we are going to have an incredible time. She has been such a good cheerleader and a good source of moral support.”
What’s next for the team
The 2026 National High School Championships will take place March 27-29 at the Sheraton Grand Chicago.
You can follow the team’s journey on Lubbock-Cooper social media pages.
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